Bangladesh Open University - 7th Largest University in the World

Online Desk | March 28, 2013

Bangladesh Open University

The need for an Open University in Bangladesh was felt long ago. The history of distance education in Bangladesh dates back to 1956, when the education Directorate was assigned with the responsibility for distribution of 200 radio receivers to educational institutions. This led to the creation of an Audio-Visual Cell and later the Audio-Visual Education Centre (AVEC in 1962).

After Independence Bangladesh faced the challenge of meeting the educational needs of mass people. To meet this challenge the necessity for a new mode of education was widely felt. As a sequel to that feeling, the School Broadcasting Pilot Project (SBP) was launched in 1978.Later in 1983; the project was transformed into National Institute of Educational Media and Technology (NIEMT).

NIEMT was later replaced by the Bangladesh Institute of Distance Education (BIDE) in 1985. Apart from producing audio-visual materials, BIDE offered the Bachelor of Education (B Ed) program in distance mode. The success of BIDE encouraged policy makers to take up a major plan for establishing an open university. The plan became a reality in October 1992 when the Bangladesh Open University Act 1992 was passed in the Parliament.

It is the 7th largest university in the world according to enrollment.

As the only public university in Bangladesh to use distance education as a method of delivery, BOU is mandated to "promote through multimedia; instruction of every standard and knowledge – both general and scientific - by means of any form of communications technology, to raise the standard of education and to give the people educational opportunities by democratizing education and creating a class of competent people by raising the standard of education of the people generally.

History

Distance education was first introduced into Bangladesh when the Education Directorate was assigned with the responsibility for distribution of 200 radio receivers to educational institutions. This led to the creation of an Audio-Visual Cell and later the Audio-Visual Education Centre (AVEC) in 1962.
Upon achieving independence in 1971, mass education was viewed as a priority in the new nation. The School Broadcasting Programme (SBP) was launched in 1978. The project was later expanded to become the National Institute of Educational Media and Technology (NIEMT) in 1983. In 1985, the NIEMT was renamed the Bangladesh Institute of Distance Education (BIDE) which offered, apart from audio-visual materials, a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) programme via distance learning validated by the University of Rajshahi. The success of BIDE encouraged policymakers to take up a major plan for establishing an open university.

In 1992, the plan came into fruition with the tabling and passing of the BOU Act 1992 and Prime Minister was the chancellor of the Bangladesh Open University. On 22 June 2009 a bill was placed in the parliament to assign the president as chancellor replacing the prime minister.

A total of 21 formal academic programmes are offered by BOU. Formal programmes are academic programmes that result in the awarding of an academic qualification up to a Master's degree upon completion and examination.

As low rate of literacy remains an issue in Bangladesh, non-formal programmes are conducted by the BOU to create awareness and impart knowledge about health, environment, disaster management, basic science, agriculture, food, nutrition and other branches of knowledge for human development. To date, 19 non-formal programmes have been initiated in the areas of Environmental Protection, Basic Science, Elementary Mathematics, Agriculture, Bank Services, Marketing Management, Health, Nutrition, Population and Gender Issues.

Faculties

BOU's 11 divisions are organized into seven schools:

School of Education: programmes in educationSchool of Social Science, Humanities and Language: programmes in languages (English and Arabic) and social science.School of Business: programmes of BBA, PGDM, Regular MBA and Commonwealth Executive MBA/MPA
School of Agriculture and Rural Development:programmes in agriculture and development studies
School of Science and Technology: programmes in computer science, health and nursing
School of Law: programmes in law and legal studiesOpen School: secondary school completion programmes

A full list of the regional resource centres and tutorial centres affiliated with BOU can be found from BOU's website.

Accreditation

BOU is granted the authority to confer degrees under Clause 6(c) of the BOU Act 1992. BOU is recognized as a national university by the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, a statutory body attached to the Ministry of Education.

The BOU is a founding and participating institution of the SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning (SACODiL).